Avowed Review: A Radiant World Tarnished by Workmanlike Design
At Gaming News, we approach every new release with a keen eye for both innovation and execution. Obsidian Entertainment, a studio with a storied reputation for crafting deep, narrative-driven RPGs, presents Avowed, their ambitious foray into a vibrant new fantasy world. While the game boasts moments of undeniable brilliance, particularly in its meticulously realized setting, a pervasive sense of uninspired design and a workmanlike approach to questing and storytelling prevent Avowed from reaching the lofty heights its potential suggests. It’s a title that, despite its many strengths, often feels like a checklist of familiar RPG tropes executed without a truly distinct spark.
We must admit, the initial impressions of Avowed are undeniably striking. Obsidian has once again demonstrated their mastery in world-building, presenting a setting that is both breathtakingly beautiful and intriguingly alien. The “Living Lands,” a sprawling archipelago brimming with exotic flora and fauna, feels truly alive. The environmental design is a standout feature, with diverse biomes ranging from lush, bioluminescent forests to stark, volcanic landscapes, each rendered with an impressive level of detail and atmospheric flair. The way light filters through ancient trees, the rustle of unseen creatures in the undergrowth, and the sheer scale of the vistas all contribute to an immersive and captivating experience. This is a world begging to be explored, to be climbed over, and to be simply marveled at. The discovery of a magical ring, offering a tangible boost to parkour speed, perfectly encapsulates this feeling of traversal as a core gameplay element, hinting at a level of freedom and verticality that initially promises a truly dynamic adventure.
However, as we delve deeper into the game’s mechanics and narrative structure, a disheartening pattern begins to emerge. The quest design, while plentiful, often falls into a repetitive rhythm. Fetch quests, simple “go here, kill this” objectives, and straightforward dialogue choices populate the majority of our playthrough. While these elements are foundational to the RPG genre, Avowed rarely elevates them beyond their basic function. The objectives feel less like organic components of a living world and more like items to be ticked off a list, draining much of the potential for emergent storytelling or genuine player agency. This sense of dutiful progression can, at times, feel like a chore rather than a compelling journey.
The narrative itself, while featuring Obsidian’s characteristic attention to lore and character development, suffers from a similar lack of urgency and distinctiveness. The overarching plot, involving political intrigue and the looming threat of a blight spreading across the Living Lands, is present but never truly gripping. The storytelling often feels exposition-heavy, delivered in a manner that, while informative, lacks the emotional resonance or narrative momentum that truly great RPGs achieve. It’s as if the story is being recounted by someone rushing to catch a bus, efficiently delivering the necessary plot points but missing the opportunities for genuine impact.
One of the most significant detriments to our enjoyment of Avowed lies in the considerable gulf in quality between its various gameplay systems. This is most starkly evident when comparing the melee combat to the spellcasting. The melee combat, for all its visual flair and the potential for varied weapon types, feels sluggish and uninspired. Attacks often lack weight and impact, and the enemy AI, while occasionally posing a challenge, frequently falls into predictable patterns. Dodging and blocking feel less like strategic maneuvers and more like necessary but unrewarding button presses. This aspect of the gameplay, which forms a significant portion of the experience for many players, can become a tedious obstacle to progression.
On the other hand, the magic system in Avowed is a revelation. When we decided to pivot our build to a wizard, the game transformed. The act of unleashing crackling, cackling spells, of manipulating the elements and conjuring powerful arcane energies, is exhilarating. The visual effects are spectacular, and the variety of spells available offers a genuinely engaging and satisfying combat experience. The sheer power fantasy of a well-played mage in Avowed is so potent that it highlights the comparatively lackluster nature of other combat styles. This disparity is so pronounced that it genuinely feels like playing two different games, one that is merely adequate and another that is truly exceptional.
Our initial 27 hours with Avowed were, to be frank, a mixed bag. We appreciated the world-building, but the quest design and the general pacing left us feeling largely indifferent. The experience was further marred by an unfortunate technical issue. A reinstallation of a notoriously intrusive graphics driver application resulted in the deletion of hundreds of our meticulously captured screenshots. This unexpected setback, while ultimately a technical glitch unrelated to the game itself, necessitated a restart of our playthrough. It was during this restart that we made the pivotal decision to embrace the wizard class, a choice that profoundly altered our perception of Avowed.
Suddenly, the game’s most exhilarating elements were front and center. The ability to decimate entire groups of enemies with chains of lightning, to control the battlefield with elemental forces, and to witness the sheer spectacle of arcane power unleashed was immensely satisfying. The feeling of empowerment and the sheer destructive capability of a skilled mage is a testament to what the game could be when its systems are firing on all cylinders. The joy derived from these moments of magical dominance was palpable, bringing a wide grin to our face, reminiscent of a cartoon villain reveling in their destructive prowess.
The Allure of the Living Lands: A World of Unparalleled Beauty
The true triumph of Avowed lies within its meticulously crafted environment. The Living Lands are not merely a backdrop; they are a character in themselves, a vibrant tapestry of interconnected biomes that feel both fantastical and strangely plausible. Obsidian’s signature attention to detail is on full display here. From the towering, crystal-laden trees of the Eldorian Forest to the oppressive, ash-choked plains surrounding Mount Cinder, each area is a masterclass in environmental storytelling and atmospheric design.
The use of color and light is particularly noteworthy. The ethereal glow of bioluminescent flora illuminates ancient ruins, casting long, dancing shadows that hint at forgotten histories. Sunbeams pierce through dense canopies, dappling the forest floor with intricate patterns. The wind rustles through tall grasses, carrying with it the distant calls of unseen creatures, creating a palpable sense of life and immersion. We found ourselves frequently stopping just to take in the scenery, marveling at the sheer artistry that went into its creation. The parkour system, as mentioned, further encourages this exploration, allowing players to navigate the terrain in dynamic ways and discover hidden vistas and secrets. It’s a world that rewards curiosity and encourages players to stray from the beaten path, promising new wonders around every corner.
Biodiversity and Environmental Immersion
The diversity of life within the Living Lands is astonishing. Obsidian has populated this world with a menagerie of unique and often bizarre creatures. From the lumbering, herbivorous Grolars to the swift and deadly Razorwings, the fauna feels distinct and integrated into the ecosystem. The visual design of these creatures is imaginative, often blending familiar animalistic traits with fantastical elements. Their behavior also contributes to the immersion; some creatures are passive grazers, while others are territorial predators, creating dynamic encounters that can shift based on your actions and proximity. The ecological balance, or perhaps imbalance, within the Living Lands is a key aspect of its narrative, and the visual representation of this is exceptionally well done.
Questing and Narrative: A Workmanlike Approach to Storytelling
While the world of Avowed is a feast for the eyes, the substance of its quests and narrative often falls short of the visual spectacle. The core gameplay loop revolves around undertaking a multitude of quests, which, as we’ve noted, tend to adhere to a predictable formula. The “go here, retrieve item X” or “eliminate Y number of enemies” structure, while standard in RPGs, lacks the inventive twists or narrative depth that would make them truly memorable.
The dialogue, while feature-rich with numerous branching options, often feels like it’s leading to the same preordained outcomes. The motivations of characters, while present, can sometimes feel underdeveloped, making it difficult to truly invest in their plights. Obsidian is known for its deep lore, and Avowed is certainly no exception, with extensive in-game texts and environmental clues painting a rich history for the Living Lands. However, the delivery of this lore through quests and character interactions often feels less like organic discovery and more like mandatory exposition.
The “Obsidian Must-Have” Checklist
There’s a pervasive feeling that Avowed is trying to fulfill a perceived checklist of Obsidian’s signature RPG elements. This includes companion characters with their own loyalty quests, branching dialogue trees, moral choices with visible consequences, and a robust skill and perk system. While these are all valuable components of a modern RPG, their inclusion in Avowed can feel somewhat perfunctory. The companion quests, for instance, often boil down to similar fetch or combat scenarios, lacking the narrative weight and emotional impact that made companion quests in titles like Dragon Age: Origins or even Obsidian’s own Fallout: New Vegas so compelling.
A Tale of Two Games: Combat Disparity
The most significant issue we encountered was the stark contrast in quality between the game’s combat systems. The melee combat, a primary avenue for engaging with many of Avowed’s enemies, is functional but ultimately uninspired. The animations can feel stiff, the hit feedback is often underwhelming, and the overall combat flow lacks the fluidity and responsiveness that modern action RPGs have set as a standard. Blocking, dodging, and parrying are present, but they don’t feel as impactful or rewarding as they could be.
Conversely, the magic system is a shining beacon of excellence. When we switched to a wizard build, Avowed transformed into a far more engaging and exhilarating experience. The spells are visually spectacular, with satisfying elemental effects and impactful area-of-effect capabilities. Firing off volleys of lightning, conjuring defensive barriers, and manipulating the environment with arcane power is immensely enjoyable. The sheer variety and power fantasy offered by the magic system are so pronounced that it amplifies the mediocrity of the melee combat by comparison. This imbalance is so great that it genuinely feels like playing two distinct games—one that is adequate at best, and another that is truly exceptional.
Revisiting the Journey: A Wizard’s Redemption
Our initial playthrough of Avowed left us with a sense of mild disappointment, a feeling that a potentially magnificent game had been hampered by a lack of daring and an overreliance on conventional design. The technical hiccup that forced a restart, however, proved to be an unexpected opportunity. Embracing the wizard class fundamentally changed our engagement with the game. What had previously felt like a series of arduous tasks and uninspiring encounters became a captivating display of arcane power and strategic spellcasting.
The freedom to experiment with different spell combinations and to overcome challenges through creative use of magic added a layer of depth that had been largely absent from our melee-focused experience. The feeling of being a powerful sorcerer, capable of shaping the battlefield and decimating foes with overwhelming force, was incredibly rewarding. This experience highlighted that while the foundational elements of Avowed are present, it is the execution of specific gameplay systems that truly determines its success.
The Potential of the Mage Build
The success of the wizard class suggests a direction for players seeking the most fulfilling experience in Avowed. Focusing on intelligence and spellcasting unlocks the game’s most potent and engaging combat mechanics. The synergy between different spells, the strategic placement of area-of-effect attacks, and the sheer spectacle of elemental destruction make for a truly memorable RPG experience. If a player is looking for a game that offers a deep narrative and a rich world, but also provides an exciting and visually impressive combat system, then embracing the magical arts is the clear path forward.
Conclusion: A World Worth Experiencing, With Caveats
Avowed is a game that elicits a complex reaction. We are undeniably impressed by the sheer beauty and depth of its world, the Living Lands, which stand as a testament to Obsidian’s unparalleled skill in environmental design and lore creation. The visual fidelity, the atmosphere, and the sheer sense of place are all exceptional. However, the workmanlike approach to quest design, the occasionally uninspired narrative delivery, and the significant disparity in combat system quality prevent Avowed from reaching its full potential.
The experience can be significantly elevated by focusing on the game’s strongest elements, particularly the magic system. Players who are willing to overlook the less polished aspects and dive into the spellcasting will find a deeply rewarding and visually stunning adventure. Yet, for those seeking a consistently engaging experience across all gameplay facets, Avowed may feel like a beautiful, expansive world populated by predictable chores. It is a game that is almost good, a sentiment that, given the pedigree of its developer, feels like a missed opportunity, but one that still offers a glimpse of brilliance for those willing to seek it out. Our time with Avowed has been a journey of both frustration and elation, a testament to a game that excels in some areas while faltering in others.